How to construct a ramped spiral object

[adamchapman]

Hi,

Im trying to make a ramped spiral, like you see at the end of http://images.clipartof.com/small/11...lustration.jpg

Now Im not sure wether to use a solid surface or if it should be done in art.

If anyone can explain how, please do.

I almost managed to make a surface that spiralled down, but it's pretty hard to close the contour up and know which type of surface to use.

Thanks in advance for any help

[Jhjr]

U can draw that as a surface. I'd prob go with a swept surface. Draw your top spline then sweep one of your end lines around the spline. Use the translate selection after you selected the chains in the swept ribbon. I just tried it & it worked fine.

[adamchapman]

thanks for the reply. Could you possibly attach your file? It would really help explain the process

[keebler303]

I'm not well versed in mastercam so I'm not sure if it has a spiral generator built in. I know solidworks does. You can get a pretty good (visual) estimation of this by dividing the spiral into 90 degree sectors and each 90 arc will have a different radius. So you would start with a very small radius and then increase it by some amount for every 90 sector thereafter.

Something like this: More Curves

Matt

[Toonz]

I did exactly what you want a couple months back. Use the Create Spiral command. You will really have to play with it to get the look you want, but it's not that hard to figure out. Then make a line perpendicular to the spiral at one end or the other. Create a swept surface with the line as the across and the spiral as the along. Again creativity is the key to get the look you want in the end, but I think you see where this is going.

[Jhjr]

If you still want the example. I can make it up at work tomorrow. For now I'll give you an example how swept surfaces work. Think of sweeping a sidewalk. The edge of the sidewalk (which would be your spline or spiral) is the path. The broom (your end line) is gonna sweep across it. You can easily practice this with two lines perpendicular from each other. Sweep the one line across the other line. You end up with a square surface. Now all you do is use the same principal to do your spiral object. Reply if you still want the example & I'll hook ya up.

[adamchapman]

Originally Posted by Jhjr If you still want the example. I can make it up at work tomorrow. For now I'll give you an example how swept surfaces work. Think of sweeping a sidewalk. The edge of the sidewalk (which would be your spline or spiral) is the path. The broom (your end line) is gonna sweep across it. You can easily practice this with two lines perpendicular from each other. Sweep the one line across the other line. You end up with a square surface. Now all you do is use the same principal to do your spiral object. Reply if you still want the example & I'll hook ya up.

Please senf the file if you can, I've had a couple of tries but always end up with an awkward empty bit in the middle

[Jhjr]

Ok I'll put something together. I'm new to this forum. What's your email adress? Is it available on the forum? Other forums I use have them in the users profile but I can't find yours here.

[foxsquirrel]

I don't believe their is an easy way to do that in MC Solids, it would be much easier to do in Solidworks then import into MC for the toolpath.

[Jhjr]

Here is some pics, use swept surfaces. Use partial chains when you chain your geometry. After drawing the line & spline select swept surfaces. Click partial chain then chain the line first, click the green checkmark, click partial again then chain the spline, click the checkmark. Then click the translate button while in the swept surface dialogue after chaining. Then click the checkmark again. Idk if solids will work or not. If solids are needed you could create a solid from surfaces.

Untitled by burramer, on Flickr


287 by burramer, on Flickr


phone 10-2010 004 by burramer, on Flickr



Idk the exact geometry so I just quickly picked points and made something up. Its hard to tell from my pics but it is ramped. I made it with two splines, left side & right side and then made the two surfaces seperatly. You can trim those surfaces together if needed. But you could do it other ways with a one long spline to only have one surface. You could use spirals also if needed. Hth